White tea is the least processed true tea, made from young buds and leaves. It brews a delicate, subtly sweet cup with low caffeine.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Oxidation | Minimal |
| Caffeine | Low |
| Water temp | 160 to 185F |
| Steep time | 2 to 3 min |
| Flavor | Delicate, sweet, light |
| Origin | China, Fujian |
Minimal processing
White tea is simply withered and air-dried, with no rolling or firing, which keeps it close to the fresh leaf. Classic types are Silver Needle, made of buds only, and White Peony.
Gentle and forgiving. Use cooler water and a short steep to keep white tea sweet and delicate. It is one of the easiest teas to brew well.
FAQ
Is white tea really lower in caffeine than green tea? Not necessarily, this is a common myth. White tea often uses younger leaves and buds, which can be naturally higher in caffeine than mature leaves, so white tea caffeine content varies widely and isn’t reliably lower than green tea.
See the Tea Steeping Time Chart and the Green Tea Guide.